Improvement in the modes of reducing the diameters of tubings



UNITE STATES A'rnN'r 1.rrrorz.v

ELBRIDGE WHEELER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MODES OF REDUCING THE DIAMETERS OF TiUBINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,494, dated July 25, 1871.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ELBRIDGE WHEELER, of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in the Reduction of Hollow Objects of Metal, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to the reduction of hollow objects of metal by rolling the same while they are illed with a refractory powder; and my invention consists in the use of powdered soapstone, plumbago, or asbestus, as fully described hereafter.

Figures l `and 2 are views of hollow sectional piles, which may be used in carrying out my invention 5 Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of a hollow pile filled with soap-stone; and Fig. 4, aperspective view of part of a tube produced in accordance with my invention.

The hollow pile represented in Fig. l is composed of an inner complete tube, A, an intermediate sectional tube, B, and an outer sectional tube, C. When this pile has to be converted into a strong but light pipe or column` it is preferable to make the intermediate tube of steel, and the outer and inner tubes of iron. In some cases the inner tube of the pile may be in sections, as shown in Fig. 2. One end of this tubular pile having been plugged, as shown in Fig. 3, the interior is filled with powdered soap-stone, and after the opposite end has been plugged the pipe is heated and then submitted to the action of rolls until it is reduced to the desired diameter, after which the plugs may be removed or theplugged ends cut off. The result will be apipe or tube having itsinterior concentric with the exterior, the metal being of nearly uniform thickness throughout if the pile be properly arranged in the iirst instance. As the pile is being reduced by the rolls the soap-stone will be contracted in the same proportion as the metal is contracted; hence a pipe or tube of any desired diameter or thickness of metal may be produced by a proper proportioning ofthe pile. In place of filling the pile with loose soap-stone, a soap-stone core, which will become quickly powdered by the action ofthe rolls, may be molded for introduction into a coherent mass into the pile.

rlhe above-described tubular pile, if the intermediate tube be of steel, is well adapted for the production of gas andV water -pipes, columns, girders, hollow axles, hollow railroad rails, and other objects; but the pile, however, may consist of a single piece of metal, or of any desired number. of sections, and'inay be of any shapev best adapted to the formation of the tubular ob ject which has to be produced.

In reducing hollow objects of metal by similar processes, it has heretofore been the practice to employ sand or earthy substance, which, owing to the heat and pressure, become condensed into a mass which it is difficult to remove. vI have found that soap-stone, plunibago, or asbestus, while they are as refractory and yielding as sand or earth, always retain their powdered condition, so that they can be removed with but little if any trouble, being, in fact, self-delivering from the tube.

I claimrlhe process of reducing hollow yobjects of met-al by the use of soap-stone, asbestus, or plumbago, as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciication in the presence of two sub'- scribing witnesses.

ELBRIDGE WHEELER.

Witnesses:

WM. A. STEEL, F. B. RrcHARDs. 

